Author'sNote: I've decided to go ahead and post the next chapter to let everyone know this is a multichapter story. It's a short multichapter story but a multiple chapter one nonetheless. Enjoy.

Please note that I do not own any of these characters, aside from Isla, who I have personalized. Thanks.

The second he laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one. He'd seen her face centuries ago in a vision that lasted no more than a minute. Since then, he'd kept her face locked in his mind and he was certain this was her. She wore simple, brown robes with little armoring. The hood was covering her head, its shadow shielding her eyes, but as soon as he stepped up to the energy shield, she flipped the hood down. He saw, for the first time in years, the dark color of chocolate brown her eyes were. For such a basic color, they were beautiful. They were brimming with emotion he could not feel within her. She was very skilled at hiding her emotions. He could feel nothing but confidence and serenity emitting from her.

Thinking back on it now, he learned she always suppressed her emotions like that while on a mission or in combat. On the ship, however, she was less composed. Scourge could feel when she was happy, excited, angry, or upset, but only subtly. She was an obedient little Jedi, never revealing too much of what supposedly made Jedi weak. If anything, her emotions would make her stronger. She was already immensely powerful. He could only imagine what she could do if only she'd use her emotions as a tool.

Feeling for her through the Force, he could tell she was meditating. She spent much of her free time meditating inside her quarters. When he heard the holoterminal go off, indicating that someone was trying to call, she came out of her room. He slipped into the common room quietly behind her. An older woman with long hair appeared on the terminal. He noted the lightsaber attached to her hip instantly.

"How is she?" Isla questioned immediately, her voice soft, but worried and the woman sighed, bowing her head.

"She worsens everyday, Isla. You need to come visit. Please." There was a desperation in her voice, one that he felt Isla took heed of.

"I will come tomorrow morning. I'll need to gather my things," Isla informed and the woman smiled.

"Thank you, Isla. I will see you soon then." The elder woman bowed before disconnecting and her image disappeared. Isla stood with her head bowed for many moments before speaking.

"My mother is dying and I must go to her," she said as she turned to face him. Scourge was slightly surprised to find tears brimming her eyes. He could feel the ball of sadness growing in her as she wiped her eyes. He watched her carefully before approaching slowly.

"I… don't know what to do," she murmured as she gazed up at him. Her deep eyes, usually so full of light, were dark and there were ugly marks under her eyes. She had not been sleeping well.

"Go to her, Isla," he said plainly, as if it were obvious, and she shook her head.

"I'm not sure if I could handle it," she said as she covered her face with her hands. "I've never dealt with this before. I…" She trailed off, her words muffled as she began to weep quietly.

Scourge had never seen her in this state. She was strong, composed, but all people, all Jedi and Sith alike, had a breaking point. Sighing, he gently tugged her hands away from her face. The way she subconsciously moved closer to him made that old, but familiar feeling flare up. She was staring up at him now with those big, brown eyes. Tears were now rolling down her cheeks and wetting his gloved hands.

"Jedi or not, emotions need to be released," he said softly, his eyes searching her face and she nodded, but not understanding.

"Feelings aren't a bad thing. Your Jedi Order has warped you, Isla," he muttered as he brushed away her tears. "Bottling up your emotions is not healthy. Even for a Jedi." A small smile then appeared on her lips.

"I thought you said you didn't care?"

"I lied," he stated simply as he cupped her face. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and he heard her small intake of breath. This sudden urge to kiss her was overbearing and he almost did, but pulled away before his body would let him. Taking advantage of her in this weakened state wasn't right and even he knew that.

"Scourge?"

"Go to her in the morning and when you return, we'll talk," he murmured as he let go completely. She stared at him, concerned and confused but he simply left her there. He found himself in his shared quarters and took a seat on his cot. He needed to think and so did she.

~~~

She could not sleep that night; an unfamiliar feeling writhing inside her chest kept her from sleep. Lord Scourge had been on her mind for some time. Since he'd help them escape from the Emperor's flagship, there was never a moment he was not on her mind. He was mysterious, soft spoken, but passionate. He was cruel and dangerous and spoke freely of how he despised her ways of mercy, but he was kind, in some aspects. He praised her ability to cut down their enemies, but criticized the way she held back. They had so many differences and she liked to know his perspectives on things. Perhaps that's why she was so drawn to him. She searched for his presence often. For whatever reason, it comforted her. It took much strength but she was finally able to admit she may have harboured romantic feelings for him. It was the only conclusion she could draw about the way she was feeling.

Isla could not deny that she found certain people attractive. She'd met plenty of attractive men and women in her line of work, but her code prohibited her from acting on her feelings. She had easily rejected Doc's proposals and there had been many. He was a charming man, with certain characteristics she admired, but she wasn't going to allow herself to break her code for something that would not last. She briefly wondered what was so different about Scourge. After all, he had told her many times about his inability to feel much of anything since he was cursed with immortality. She somewhat pitied him, knowing he wished for nothing but to feel again. She knew not how to make it better for him, but wished she did. Frowning, she entered the galley fully dressed and restless. She shot the Sith sitting quietly at the table a small smile. He did not return it and the serious look on his face sent tingles down her spine. She tried to ignore it, to no avail.

"You're up early, Jedi," Scourge said in greeting as she began fixing herself a cup of caf to go.

"Figured I might as well get a head start on the day," she murmured. As much as she was dreading looking into the eyes of her dying mother, she had to come to terms with it. She took a sip of her caf.

"You're exhausted, Isla."

"Is it that obvious? I'll feel better when I get there," she said as she turned to leave the galley. "I'll be back tonight. Probably."

"And we'll talk," he added and she glanced back at him, nodding.

"And then we'll talk," she confirmed before leaving the galley and exiting the ship. The trip to her childhood home brought back many memories. Her old home resided in downtown Coruscant, away from where the gang fights usually took place. Her parents, Lewaye and Leia Gale, owned a tailor's shop. They were fairly popular among Coruscant's more esteemed population. Her brother lived and worked alongside them, preparing to take over shop when their parents retired. With them also lived Jedi Master Mara Hall; a lively woman who didn't much live by the Code nowadays, but could still wield a lightsaber like she'd just been given the rank of Jedi Knight. But she and Isaac just called her Grandma Mara. She and Isla were currently the only Force users in the family. Her father was an orphan and had no known brothers and sisters and her mother was an only child. Her grandfather, who had been a powerful Force user once, was killed even before her mother had been born so it was just she and Grandma Mara.

When she reached the front of the shop, she simply stood and admired it. It hadn't changed at all. Above the shop was the living space. She could sense their presences, though her mothers' was very weak. Sucking in a deep breath, she approached the front entrance and went inside. She glanced around the shop and noted with satisfaction nothing had changed. Customers moved around the shop quietly, admiring the many colors textures of fabric. It was peaceful and she smiled.

"Isla?"

She turned around to face her brother, who was a few inches taller than she. His blond hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and his eyes, the color of seagreen, were wide with disbelief. His lips slowly formed a smile.

"Isaac," she murmured softly before engulfing him with a hug. Isaac hadn't changed much either. He was still small and skinny and dressed in baggy, street clothing.

"Where have you been?" he questioned while pulling away and she shrugged.

"Defeating the Emperor, saving the galaxy. Stuff like that." She smiled sheepishly at him and he laughed heartily. He threw his arm around her shoulder before leading her to the staircase in the back of the shop. They climbed the steps slowly, Leia's sickly presence getting strong the closer Isla got.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Isaac announced as they entered the kitchen. Leia was sitting at the table beside Grandma Mara and Lewaye was at the stove, stirring a pot of soup. Each of them turned to look at Isla simultaneously and their eyes widened. Grandma Mara grinned as she grasped Leia's hand.

"I thought I felt you close, little Isla," she said and Isla smiled, tears filling her eyes as she walked towards her mother. Leia's seagreen eyes were sunken and she had no color in her cheeks. Isla could feel how weak she was and her heart broke. She knelt by her mother's side, taking her other hand in her own.

"Hello, mother," she said softly and Leia reached out, brushing Isla's tears away, and smiling.

"I'm glad you came," she said and Isla shuddered, choking back a sob.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I had to gather my courage before I could face you and I…" Isla suddenly realized it was wrong for her to be afraid. Her mother was dying. If anyone should be afraid, it was Leia, but she wasn't. Isla could see it in her eyes. Leia had comes to term with it. Now it was time for Isla to do the same.

"Don't apologize, Isla. You're scared, but things will be fine. There is no Death, there is the Force."

And her tears broke free, cascading down her cheeks like a salty waterfall, and for the first time in 11 years, Isla cried in her mother's arms.

~~~

Isla learned a lot that day. About herself, about the Force, and about death itself. She discussed treatment options with her family and was informed nothing was helping. The disease currently torturing her mother had many different treatment options but nothing was working. Grandma Mara had also been trying to heal Leia through the Force for months but her attempts were in vain. Grandma Mara told both she and Isaac that if this was the Force's will, then there was nothing they could do. The moment she heard this, nothing but hot, fiery anger coursed through her veins and she asked why? Her mother didn't deserve this. Out of all the cruel, worthless people in the galaxy, why did it have be Leia Gale?

She left the house that night furious, but exhausted. She didn't return to the ship until late, taking her time making the trip back, and simply blaming the galaxy for the pain her mother was enduring. When she did return, Scourge was waiting for her in the common room. He told her Kira had returned, asking for her, but had already retired to her quarters. Isla hardly heard what he was saying. Her mind was buzzing with an array of different emotions and she didn't know what to do.

"Isla, are you okay?" He grasped her shoulders gently as her dark eyes darted around the ship before coming to rest on him. She was tense underneath his fingertips and she was breathing erratically.

"Isla, take a deep breath and answer me. Tell me what's wrong," he ordered and she inhaled deeply, her eyes falling shut, before exhaling and reopening her eyes. He was suddenly engrossed by her eyes.

"There's nothing anyone can do to save my mother. She's dying and there's nothing I can do and I hate that. I always know how to fix the problem. I'm the Hero of Tython, damnit!" she yelled before whimpering and falling into his chest, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

"Why do I feel so powerless?" she whispered as he hesitantly put his arms around her.

"You can't save everyone, Isla" he said and she buried her face in his hard chest. Underneath the tunic he wore, she could feel the arch and ridges of his body.

"I wish I could," she said softly. "Then I could save you too."

She felt him tense underneath her arms but she only held him tighter. He needed to know it was the truth and that she cared about him. No matter their differences; no matter how many disagreements they had; even if he did not return her affections, she cared.

"I cannot be saved, Jedi," he muttered and she stepped back to look at him. She frowned at him before sighing.

"Maybe not, but I can still try," she remarked before excusing herself and retiring to her quarters. Without changing out of her robes, she fell into bed and slept better than she had in days.

~~~

The ship was silent. Doc and Rusk were not there to fill the silent room with their snores and Scourge was grateful. Silence was a rare commodity these days since he had joined Isla's crew. He didn't sleep much, too much on his mind to even consider it. Of course, he didn't need sleep to function properly and spent most nights staring at the ceiling or meditating. That night, the only thing on his mind was Isla. She was sleeping, he could feel, and he was glad. She hadn't been sleeping well recently. With her mother the way she was, he assumed it was a lot to worry about. So much so, he could feel her resolve slipping away with each day and her true feelings becoming more and more revealed.

He wasn't sure he could care for her in the way she wanted him to. Since meeting her that day on Quesh, his eyes had been reopened to the the color of her chocolate brown iris'. He was embarrassed to admit he often found himself falling into them. He could not feel nor see anything else, but how he wished he could. He'd only had one lover in his life since becoming the way he was now; a beautiful, pureblood Sith woman with elegant black hair and striking emerald green eyes that contrasted perfectly with the deep red of her skin. He had fallen in love with her eyes as well. But she was gone, along with everything else he knew from before.